What is dyspnea?

Dyspnea is the medical term for shortness of breath, sometimes described as "air hunger." It is an uncomfortable feeling.

Shortness of breath can range from mild and temporary to serious and long lasting. It is sometimes difficult to diagnose and treat dyspnea because there can be many different causes.

Shortness of breath is a common problem. According to the Cleveland Clinic Center for Continuing Education, 1 in every 4 people who visit the doctor have dyspnea.

Causes

An episode of dyspnea is not always directly related to an individual's health. A person can feel short of breath after intense exercise, when traveling to a high altitude, or going through major temperature changes.

A person with dyspnea will have trouble taking a deep breath.

However, dyspnea usually relates to health problems. Sometimes, it is just a case of being out of shape, and exercise can improve symptoms. But dyspnea can be a sign of a serious health issue.

Tests to measure air flow and the patient's lung capacity can help to pinpoint the source and the extent of breathing problems. Additional tests will look at the level of oxygen in a patient's blood, and the blood's capacity to carry oxygen.

Treatment

To treat dyspnea, doctors will address the cause of the breathing difficulties and work with the individual to help them breathe more easily.

A stream of cool air around the face and neck may help.

Specific treatments vary from person to person, depending on the source of the problem. If dyspnea is linked to asthma, it normally responds well to medications such as bronchodilators and steroids. When it is due to an infection such as pneumonia, antibiotics can bring relief.

Other medications, such as opiates, anti-inflammatory drugs, and anti-anxiety drugs, can also be effective.

Breathing troubles stemming from COPD can improve with special breathing techniques such as pursed lip breathing and strengthening exercises. People can learn how to do this on pulmonary rehabilitation programs.

The Dyspnea Lab, a research center specializing in shortness of breath, report that people find these programs helpful, even if the root causes of the problem remains.

If tests indicate low levels of oxygen in the blood, supplemental oxygen may be supplied. However, not everyone with shortness of breath will have low blood oxygen levels.

According to the Dyspnea Lab, many people with dyspnea find that a gentle stream of cool air around the head and face helps improve their symptoms.

Prevention

Individuals with dyspnea can take measures to improve their overall health and give themselves more breathing room.

Avoiding other environmental triggers such as chemical fumes and wood smoke

Losing weight can be beneficial in many ways, such as reducing stress on the heart and lungs and making it easier to exercise, both of which can strengthen the cardiovascular and respiratory systems

When adjusting to higher altitudes, people should take time, ease into activities gradually, and reduce exercise levels at altitudes above 5,000 feet

Specific groups

Dyspnea can affect specific groups of people in different ways:

Pregnant women

According to the Cleveland Clinic Center for Continuing Education, mild symptoms of dyspnea are common during pregnancy.

This is because pregnancy reduces a women's breathing capacity by up to 20 percent. However, the number of breaths a woman takes per minute, or the respiratory rate, does not typically change during pregnancy.

Older people and people with serious health conditions

Dyspnea can develop when people are experiencing the advanced stage of certain diseases.

At this point, shortness of breath will be dealt with as part of an end-of-life treatment package, as treating dyspnea with specific drugs may cause the person unnecessary problems.

Infants

Diseases of the upper respiratory system are a relatively common pediatric emergency, and one of the most common causes of shortness of breath in infants.

Croup, inhaling a foreign object, and inflammation of the windpipe are all common causes of dyspnea in infants.

Outlook

The outlook for people with dyspnea depends on the cause.

If the underlying condition can be treated and improved, such as pneumonia or asthma, then breathing problems may be eliminated or greatly reduced.

However, if shortness of breath is due to serious or chronic diseases that worsen over time, such as heart disease or COPD, improvement may be limited.

Patients with dyspnea need to work with their healthcare providers to develop and follow a comprehensive treatment plan.

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